Apparatus for cleaning textile machinery



1967 I M. H. IRONS ETAL. 3,352,327

APPARATUS FOR CLEANING TEXTILE MACHINERY Filed Sept. 27, 1965 8 Sheets-Sheet 1 I i 22 x 26 48 20 m!) I6 78 74 s7 84 46 44 f g g g a 4028 g a a f I y. 24 30 24b l4 2| 36 U l3 LQ 32 F e. I

FIG.3

INVENTOR MILTON H. IRONS BY PHILJPF MA Ul E MTOR fiY )5 Nov. 14, 1967 M. H. IRONS ETAL APPARATUS FOR CLEANING TEXTILE MACHINERY 8 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Sept. 27, 1965 Nov. 14, 1967 M. H. IRONS ETAL APPARATUS FOR CLEANING TEXTILE MACHINERY Filed Sept. 27, 1965 I44 O I82 22 26 74 0 n40 am a a a 36 32 UUUU s g a a a a ,va 2 E E I I46 4b 40 2 240 H 148 la I4 ll' 86/. 24b 38 U 24v INVENTORS. l3 MILTON H. IRONS v 12 F l G. 8 BY PHILIP F.MAGUIYRE 8 Sheets-Sheet 3 ATTORNEY Nov. 14, 1967 M. H. IRONS ETAL APPARATUS FOR CLEANING TEXTILE MACHINERY Filed Sept. 27, 1965 8 Sheets-Sheet 4 2 9 & who 2 32 3M 7/ P N. L M U a f rH d f U w. b Tm "mm OW! mm Q 9 70 O 3 2 O 2 a a g INVENTORS. F G H MILTON H.IRONS F. MAGUIRE 2 ORE% a PHILIP Nov. 14, 1967 M. H. lRONS ETAL APPARATUS FOR CLEANING TEXTILE MACHINERY 8 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Sept. 27, 1965 MILTON H. IRONS PHILIP F. MA/?|RE gfiflw ATTORNEY Nov. 14, 1967 M. H. IRONS ETAL APPARATUS FOR CLEANING TEXTILE MACHINERY 8 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed Sept. 27, 1965 I40 I4b 28 FIG.|5

I ATTORNEY Nov. 14, 1967 M. H. IRONS ETAL APPARATUS FOR CLEANING TEXTILE MACHINERY 8 Sheets-Sheet 7 Filed Sept. 2'7, 1965 FIG. l6

F I INVENTORS.

MILTON H. IRONS PHILIP F. MAGUIRE ELM ATTEIRNEY 5 1967 M. H. IRONS ETAL 3,352,327

APPARATUS FOR CLEANING TEXTILE MACHINERY Filed Sept. 27, 1965 INVENTORS. MILTON FH. IRONS PHILIP AUI M ATTOR NEY United States Patent 3,352,327 APPARATUS FOR CLEANING TEXTILE v MACHINERY Milton H. Irons, East Providence, and Philip F. Maguire, Providence, 18.1., assignors to Grinnell Corporation, Providence, R.I., a corporation of Delaware Filed Sept. 27, 1965, Ser. No. 490,613 19 Claims. (Cl. 139-1) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE An apparatus for the collection of lint generated on a loom by the weaving process wherein lint which falls from the warp is arrested, by a belt underlying the extended warp strands, which belt then transports the arrested lint to a place between the warp strands and the beam where the arrested lint is gathered from the belt and formed into a package, which package expands as lint is collected, the space for expansion being provided by space made available by consumption of the beam by the weaving process.

This invention relates generally to apparatus for cleaning textile machinery such as looms and the like by preventing lint, generated by the operation of the loom, from accumulating on the machinery and interfering with its operation. More particularly, the invention relates to improvements in existing types of lint collecting and removing apparatus which utilize a moving belt to arrest lint in the region of its generation and move it to a collection station.

Lint is produced by abrasion of the warp threads as they pass from the whip roll through the drop wires and the warp shed. The abrasion causes small fibers (lint) to be pulled away from the threads. These fibers then are acted upon by air currents and gravity. They eventually settle on the looms lower works where they accumulate and become soiled with oil and dirt. They may then become dislodged by air currents generated in the lower works of the loom and be blown back into the warp threads or onto the warp beam causing imperfections in the finished product. Attempts to solve this problem on looms have led to the development of a type of lint collection system comprising a belt spaced below and substantially coextensive with the horizontal run of the warp threads from the Whip roll to the heddles. To be effective this belt must be placed between the lower works of the loom and the warp threads. When in this location the belt blocks the rising air currents from the lower works of the loom and allows the fibers to fall by the action of gravity onto the upper surface of the belt where they are arrested. 1

When a belt is thus interposed between the warp threads and the lower works it must, due to space limitations, be placed in close proximity to the upper portion of the loom including the warp threads, whip roll, drop wires, etc. As a result, collection of arrested lint and immediate removal of that lint from the vicinity of the belt has been considered essential. This required elaborate and costly vacuum systems which in most cases must be run coritinuously thereby consumin of large amounts of power.

The present invention relates to a system for arresting generated lint and collecting and storing same in the vicinity of the collection belt thereby eliminating the need for elaborate removal systems. As illustrated by one embodiment particularly adapted for a textile loom it comprises a wide, flexible, endless belt which is mounted between spaced apart parallel rollers located underneath the warp strands at the back of the loom, one roller ex- "ice tending parallel to the heddles and adjacent thereto and the other roller extending parallel to, and adjacent the warp beam. One of these rollers is supplied with a drive which slowly draws the upper flight of the belt from the heddles toward the whip roll. The belt passes from the vicinity of the heddles, over the crank shaft, beneath the drop wires and rearward toward the warp beam. The belt is wide enough to extend substantially across the width of the warp strands so that the upper flight of the belt forms an extensive lint collecting surface onto which lint can fall. In this connection the belt acts as a shield or barrier to any air currents which rise upwardly toward the warp strands as a result of the movement of the lay f other parts in the lower regions of the looms as well as air current caused by temperature differentials caused by the dissipation of large amounts of frictional energy from the moving parts.

Unlike previous belt systems which utilized a vacuum collection system to remove the lint collected on the upper flight of the belt the instant invention contemplates the utilization space on the m which, while not initially available becomes available .as the weaving process is carried forth. This space becomes available as the warp beam is consumed. Initially, when a new beam is placed on the loom it is filled to the circumference of its flanges with warp threads which are temporarily wound thereon. The cylindrical surface of the wound thread lies in close proximity to the upper portion of the loom when a new beam is installed. However, as the thread on the warp beam is consumed the surface recedes from the warp' strands above and an increasing amount of space becomes available between the surface and the upper portion of the loom. It has been found that this space becomes available at a rate which is sutlicient to provide for the storage of lint which is produced by the weaving. The means of removing .and accumulating the arrested lint may be a roller having a lint aflinitive surface,known in the weaving art as a clearing roll, which will form a sleeve-like package of lint which increases in diameter as the lint is accumulated. It may also be a blade or series of blades which remove the collected lint and deposit it in a bag whose capacity increases as room is provided for its expansion. Other means of collection which utilize the increasing space made available by the consumption of the beam will be obvious to those skilled in the textile arts and applicant does not wish to be limited to any particular means for removing lint and storing same in an expanding package in the region set forth.

Referring specifically to the illustrative embodiment, the belt supporting roller adjacent the warp beam i adapted to be supported by the surface of the thread wound on the beam. Thus when the beam is full the end of the belt adjacent the warp beam lies between the surface and the warp strands. A clearing roll is placed parallel to and adjacent the supporting roller and rests on the upper flight of the belt. As the belt passes under it lint is deposited on the clearing roll which is pivotally mounted on arms which permit it to rise to accommodate the increase in diameter caused by the accumulation of lint. As the warp is consumed the rearward end of the belt rides downward on the receding surface which supports it and thus moves away from the warp strands. Thus room is provided bet-ween the warp strands and the belt to accommodate the expanding package of accumulated lint which in this case is the sleeve of lint adhering to the clearing roll.

Having thus described in general terms one embodiment of the apparatus of this invention, the following objects will be more easily understood, one such object being the provisions of a belt type lint collector for a loom which gathers collected lint and stores it in the r 3 loom utilizing the increasing room made available on the loom by the consumption of the warp beam.

Another object is the provision of a belt type lint collector for a loom capable of using a clearing roller to gather and store the lint collected by the belt.

Another object is the provision of a belt type lint collector for a loom which utilizes a clearing roll located between the warp strands and the beam to gather and store the lint collected by the belt.

Another object is the. provision of a belt type lint collector for a loom wherein the belt recedes in response to the consumption of the beam to accommodate an expanding clearing roll which gathers and stores the lint collected by the belt.

Another object is the provision of a belt type lint collector for a loom which utilizes rubbing blades to dislodge lint collected by the belt and deposits this lint in an .expanding bag the expansion of which is accommodated by the room provided on the loom by the consumption of the warp beam.

Another objectis the provision of a belt. type lint collector for a loom which gathers collected lint and stores it in the loom for an extended period of time for example in some cases for a sufficient period of time to gather and store all the lint collected from an entire beam.

Other objects will appear hereinafter. The best mode in which it has been contemplated applying the principles of the present invention are shown in the accompanying drawings, but these are to be deemed primarily illustrative, for it is intended that the patent shall cover by suitable expression in the appended claims whatever of patentable novelty exists in the invention disclosed.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevation of one embodiment of the invention applied to a textile loom with portions of the loom omitted and other portions broken away to simplify the showing;

FIGURE 2 is another side elevation of the arrangement shown in FIG. 1 at a later stage in its use;

FIGURE 3 is a side elevation of one of the elements the embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2;

FIGURE 4 is a perspective view of the embodiment of FIG. 2 with portions of the loom and the embodiment omitted and other portions broken away to simplify the showing;

FIGURE 5 is a perspective View of some of the elements of the arrangement shown in FIG. 1 illustrating the beam riding shoe and the relative positions of the clearing roll and rear support roller;

FIGURE 6 is a perspective view of some of the elements of the arrangement shown in FIG. 2 illustrating the build-up of extra recirculated warp strands and the means used to protect the belt therefrom;

FIGURE 7 is a side elevation of another embodiment of the invention applied to a textile loom having belt supporting side arms passing over the drop wires with portions of the loom omitted and other portions broken away to simplify the showing;

FIGURE 8 is another side elevation of the arrangement shown in FIG. 7 at a later stage in its use;

FIGURE 9 is a side elevation of a portion the arrange ment of FIG. 7 illustrating a tool and method for adjusting the supporting side arms of same;

FIGURE 10 is a side elevation of another embodiment of the invention applied to a textile loom employing a sagging belt partially supported by the warp beam with portions of the loom omitted and other portions broken away to simplify the showing;

FIGURE 11 is another side elevation of the arrangement shown in FIG. 10 at a later stage in its use;

FIGURE 12 is a side elevation of another embodiment of the invention applied to a textile loom wherein sag in the belt is controlled by forward movement of one of the support rolls which in turn is GQQUQllfid by the sumption of the warp beam with portions of the loom omitted and other portions broken away to simplify the showing;

FIGURE 13 is another side elevation of the arrangement shown in FIG. 12 at a later stage in its use;

FIGURE 14 is a side elevation of another embodiment of the invention applied to a textile loom wherein a clearing roll bearing against the underside of the rear support roller is employed with portions of the loom omitted and other portions broken away to simplify the showing;

FIGURE 15 is another side elevation of the arrange.

ment shown in FIG. 14 at a later stage in its use;

FIGURE 16 is a somewhat diagrammatic side elevation of another embodiment of the invention applied to a textile loom wherein wiper blades and an expandable catch bag are employed with portions of the loom omitted and other portions broken away to simplify the showing;

FIGURE 17 is another side elevation of the arrangement shown in FIG. 16 at a later stage in its use;

FIGURE 18 is a perspective view of some of the elements of the embodiment of FIG. 12 employed to support the rear support roll.

FIGURE 19 is a perspective view of the expandable bag of FIGS. 16 and 17 and illustrates its supporting frame and attachment thereto.

FIGURE 20 is another view of elements of the embodiment of FIGS; 16 and 17 viewed in perspective from the bottom and illustrating the wiper blades and their attachment.

Referring now to FIGS. 1-3 there is illustrated a portion of a textile loom generally indicated by the reference number 10, with which the present invention is concerned. The loom 10 comprises a warp beam 12 from which warp strands 14 are payed otf and pass over a whip roll 18. The warp strands 14 which form a layer of textile strands pass through drop wires 20 and thence to heddles 22 after which they are drawn to the lay side of the loom .(not shown) to be processed into finished material. Upper and, lower layers 14A and 14B, respectively, of thewarp strands between the drop wires 20 and the heddles 22 comprise the warp shed and are continuously alternated by the heddles during loom operation. It is thus apparent that considerable quantities of lint will be produced in region of the loom extending from the whip roll 18, which oscillates back and forth to maintain constant tension on the warp, to the heddles 22. The invention now to be described is directed toward collection and removal of this lint. The whip roll, drop wires, heddles, and layer of textile strands formed by the warp strands may be said to comprise the upper portion of the loom.

This invention contemplates a relatively wide endless belt 24 made of a substantially air impervious material which forms a lint collection element extending from a point above warp beam 12, between whip roll 18 and drop wires 20, over main crank 21 and to a location adjacent heddles 22. Belt 24 has upper and lower flights 24A and 24B, respectively. Upper flight 24A presents a surface toward warp strands 14. This surface is adapted to receive lint which is produced by the warp strands passing over it and which falls through the air space above it. Belt 24 is supported for movement by a rearmost roller 26 adjacent the warp beam and a foremost roller 28 adjacent the heddles. The terms front, rear, rearmost, and foremost are used merely for the sake of establishing the re lationship between the parts and should not be considered as limiting the orientation of the device. A frame 30 is. provided to mount the rollers. The frame is supported on the loom by mounting members 32 which are adjustably secured to the loom member 34 (FIG. 4). A rigid cross member 36 provides the forward end of the frame, is secured to the mounting members and substantially spans the width of the warp threads 14. The rigid cross member lies substantially parallel to and adjacent the heddles 22. End plates 38 are mounted on both ends of the rigid cross member. They are provided with journal slots 40 which rotatably mount roller 28 by the stud axles 42 on both of its ends.

The sides of the frame are provided by forward arms 44, adjustment links 46, and rearward arms 48. The forward arms are each provided with a journal 50 FIG. 3 at their forward ends which is rotatably mounted on stubs axle 42 between the ends of roller 28 and the end plates (FIG. 4). The forward arms extend over the main loom crank 21 rearwardly to a point just forward of the drop wires. Adjustment links 46 are adjustably secured at their upper ends to the rearward ends of the forward arms by any conventional means such as a nut, bolt and lockwasher combination 54. Rearward arms 48 are adjustably secured at their forward ends to the lower ends of the adjustment links by any conventional means such as a nut, bolt and lockwasher combination 56. The rearward arms are provided at their rearward ends with journals 58 (FIG. 3) which rotatably mount the roller 26 by its stub axles 60 (FIG. 4).

The length of the frame from front to rear is controlled by the adjustment links. Depending upon their angular relationship to the forward and rearward arms, the frame is either shortened or lengthened thus varying the area of collection. In this manner the belt tension can also be varied if desired. The sides of the frame are adjustable independently of each other permitting the establishment of a substantially parallel axial relationship between rollers 26 and 28 if desired. The adjustment links further provide the sides of the frame with the necessary offset to enable them to clear both the main crank and the bottom of the drop wires (FIG. 1). Since the belt is flexible, it can pass over the crank and sag below the drop wires thus allowing some latitude in the placement of rollers 26 and 28.

The belt may be driven by either roller or by other means but is preferably driven by roller 28, while roller 26 acts as an idler. The drive for the belt may be powered by any conventional means such as pulleys and belts from a power take-off either on or off the loom, air, hy-

draulic, or electric motors or as in the case of the preferred embodiment by a pair of arms 62 and 64, pivotally connected to each other and the sword 68 of the loom and the input member of a one way drive 70 respectively. The drive is mounted on one of the stud axles 42, with holding pin 71 engaging slot 40 in the end plate. As the loom operates, the sword oscillates, and operates the drive which turns roller 28 thus moving upper flight 24a of the belt from the heddles toward the warp beam.

Studs 72 are attached to the inward sides of arms 48 near their forward ends. Swinging arms 74 are pivotally secured at their forward ends to the studs and extend rearwardly to a point adjacent roller 26 (FIG. 1). They are provided with downwardly opening slots 76 at their rearward ends. Roller 78 spans and rests upon the belt (FIG. 1). It is retained in position adjacent roller 26 by the swinging arms, being journalled at its ends in the downwardly opening slots. Thus frictional engagement with the moving belt causes roller 78 to turn. Roller 78 is of the type known in the art as a clearing roll and is provided with a surface 80 FIG. 4 having an affinity for lint.

This surface may be composed of the same material as the roller (steel, plastic, wood, aluminum or any other material) or may be a special surface applied to the roller such as paper, felt, cloth, lambswool or any other suitable material. The particular surface utilized depends upon the nature of the lint (cotton, flax, hemp, wool, hair, synthetics, fiber glass etc.) as well as the treatment of the material (starch, sizing etc.) and the atmospheric conditions (humidity, etc.) in which it is produced. As lint is produced by the weaving operation it falls on the upper surface of the belt and is carried rearwardly toward the warp beam by the movement of the belt. As it passes under roller 78 the belt, which has a rather smooth, nonporous surface, gives up the lint it has collected to the lint afiinitive surface of the roller. As the urface becomes covered with lint, the lint itself provides the lint afiinitive surface and continues to remove lint from the belt forming a sleeve 81 of ever increasing diameter on roller 78. As this sleeve increases in size, swinging arms 74 allow roller 78 to rise (FIG. 2) to accommodate the sleeve between itself and the belt. Each rearward arm 48 is further provided with a shoe 82 (FIG. 5) extending inwardly under its rearward end. These shoes, have a smooth undersurface 83, adapting them to ride on the surface 13 (FIG. 1) of the textile strands wound on the beam. In this manner vertical support is provided for the rearward end of the frame. It can be seen that as the thread on the warp beam is consumed the surface 13 recedes and the accumulation of lint by sleeve 81 increases the size of the sleeve. At the same time rearward end of the frame recedes from the extended warp strands as it rides on the receding surface 13. A full warp beam is normally wound up to the circumference of its flanges 12a. This initially, leaves very little room for the roller between the surface of the wound threads, and the components of the loom above the surface. The rearward end of the belt and the roller '78 presents a very low profile before much lint is accumulated, permitting it to be placed relatively far back over the surface 13 even when the beam is full, thus underlying a substantially portion of the extended warp strands 14. It will be noted that as the warp beam is consumed its diameter decreases at an accelerating rate since the threads are consumed at a uniform linear speed while the circumference of the beam is decreasing. Conversely, a the roller accumulates lint its circumference increases and since the belt move at a unifrom linear rate, the speed of the roller decreases as does the rate at which its diameter increases as more lint is accumulated. It is thus evident that as lint is accumulated on the roller, more than enough space will be provided by the beam, after a period of time, to acdommodate all the lint which Will be produced by the entire beam. This occurs normally long before the beam is fully consumed. As soon as sufficient room has been provided the downward movement of the belt may be arrested. Adjustable hooks 87 may be provided for this purposev These hooks can be made of bendable material and may be hung from any convenient place such as loom member 84 which is associated with the drop wire mechanism.

A bar 86 (FIGS. 1, 2, 4 and 6) is provided which spans the frame 30 and is rotatably mounted by its ends on arms 48 rearward of roller 26. When a beam is made up, extra threads are frequently wound on it for varying reasons. When this occurs it is common practice to pass these threads over the whip roll, around, forward and under the warp and back up to the whip roll where they are tied to themselves. As the loom operates these threads recirculate around the whip roll and beam forming a rope 88, FIG. 6. Bar 86 functions to prevent this rope from contacting the rearward end of the belt and thus interfering with the action of the belt.

FIGS. 7 and 8 disclose another embodiment of the instant invention having a frame similar to frame 30 of FIGS. l-6. Forward arm 144 is journalled in the same manner as arm 44 (FIG. 1). However, it extends upwardly from its forward journal over the warp shed (14a and 14b) and rearward, along side edges the layer of textile strands, and over and along side the drop wires. Adjustment link 146 extends downwardly from arm 144, between the drop wires and the whip roll to a point below the warp strands. Rearward arm 148 extends from the bottom of adjustment link 146 to a point over the warp beam. It will be seen that this provide a frame 130 which can be moved forward or back to accommodate a differing number of heddles without its members interfering with the various components of the loom such as the drop wires and the main crank. Furthermore, due to the ready access of the joint 154 between arm 144 and link 146 a tool of the type shown in FIG. 9 may be used to aid in adjusting the length of the sides of the frame. The tool comprises a body member 192 having a tab 193 which is adapted to fit around the forward edge of link 146. Slot 194 is provided mid-way on member 192. It engages the head of bolt 154a, acts as a fulcrum for the tool and holds the head of bolt 154a to keep it from turning. An ear 195, having a hole 196 at its extremity, is provided on member 192 extending above slot 194. One arm 197 of turnbuckle 198 is pivotally held at its extremity in hole 196 while the other arm 199 is held at its extremity in hole 200 in arm 144. The nut (not shown) on bolt 154a may be loosened and the angular relation between arm 144 and link 146 readily adjusted by manipulation of the turnbuckle. Furthermore, any setting made is automatical- 1y held by the tool leaving the hand free to make further adjustments of the angular relation between link 146 and arm 148. When the proper relations are established joint 154 may be tightened and the tool removed for reuse elsewhere. This is done by unhooking arm 199 and pulling ear 196 rearwardly to disengage slot 194 from the head of bolt 154a and unhooking tab 193. A sheet 190 (FIGS. 7 and 8) extending the width of the frame may be provided. It is hung from bar 86 and may be weighed at its bottom as with weight 191. This sheet will serve to prevent the bottom surface 24b of the belt, which may in some applications become dirty, from touching the surface 13 of the textile strands wound on the beam. It will also block heated air currents generated in the bottom works of the loom from blowing across the extended strands 14 when as in FIG. 8 the frame 130 reaches it suspended position and becomes separated from sur face 13.

As with the embodiments of FIGS. 16 when suflicient room has been provided for future growth of the sleeve of lint the downward movement of the belt may be arrested. Stop members 182 which are adjustably secured to eacharm 144 of frame 130 may be provided for this purpose. These stop members may be adapted to contact loom member 84 (FIG. 8) thus arresting further downward movement.

FIGS. 10 and 11 illustrate still another embodiment of the instant invention. This embodiment utilizes a slack or sagging belt 324 which is supported at its forward end and driven in the same manner as belt 24 of FIG. 1. However a pressure roller 329 retained in slots 40 bears on the belt to increase the driving force between the belt and roller 28. In this embodiment no frame is used but arms 348 are mounted on either end of whip roll lever shaft 16, which spans the loom forward of and just below the whip roll. Roller 26 is journalled in arms 348 and supports the rearward end of belt 324. The belt differs from belt 24, in that it is supported in a very slack con.- dition, the purpose of which will be explained below. Rod 339 may be provided to raise the belt in the vicinity of the main crank shaft 21 to prevent contact between the belt and the crank shaft where this is desirable, the rod being mounted in end plates 38. Clearing roller 378 rests on the upper flight of the belt and is pivotally held, adjacent and parallel to roller 26 by arms 374 which is pivotally mounted on roller 26.

In operation it will be noted that the portion of the belt adjacent roller 26 drapes across surface 13 (FIG. 10) when a full beam is in the loom and is supported thereby. As the beam is consumed the belt is allowed to sag as surface 13 recedes from warp strands 14. In this manner the belt also recedes from the warp strands providing room between itself and the warp strands for the increas-. ing diameter of the sleeve of lint 381.

FIGS. 12 and 13 illustrate another embodiment of the instant invention utilizing the increasing room made available by the decreasing warp to store the collected lint. Belt 424 in this embodiment is supported and driven at its forward end in the same manner a the embodiment 8 of FIG. 1. Roller 426 supports the rearward end of the belt. The mounting for roller 426 is adapted to move the roller forward with respect to the loom as the warp beam is consumed. This forward movement will permit the belt to sag as room is provided for it by the consumption of the beam. This sag then provide room for the accumulation of lint 481 on roller 478 which i pivotally held, adjacent and parallel to roller 426 by arm 474 which is pivotally mounted on roller 426. It will be noted that FIG. 12 represents this embodiment as it appears when associated with a full warp beam while FIG. 13 represents its position when the beam has been partially consumed. Roller 426 i supported in position over the beam by arm 448. Roller 426' spans the flanges 12a (FIG. 18) of the beam and is also supported thereon by sleeves 427.

The roller is provided with end caps 429 which retain the sleeves and hold the roller in position. Arms 448 extend forward and are pivotally connected at their forward ends to the upper end of arms 446 at joints 456.Arms

446 extend downwardly and are pivotally connected to shaft 454 at their lower ends. Shaft 454 spans the loom and is fixed to the frame of the loom 10 in any suitable manner such as plate 10a.

Pins 455 are provided between the ends of arms 446 and slidingly engage slots 443 in the upper endsof arms 444. Arms 444 are in turn pivotally connected below slots 443 to the loom frame in any suitable manner such as plate 10b at pivot points 450. The lower ends of arms 444 a are provided with shoes 482 which rest against surface 13 of the warp beam. Arms 446 are further provided with springs 445 which are mounted on shaft 454 and urge arms 446 forward. Arm 444 acting against a pin 45S regulates the forward movement of the arm 446 allowing arm 446 to move forward in response to consumption of the beam thus in turn regulating the sag in the belt and providing room for the accumulation of lint in the manner described above.

FIGS. 14 and 15 illustrate still another embodiment of the instant invention which utilizes the increasing room made available by the consumption of the threads wound on the warp beam to store the collected lint. In this embodiment a frame 530 is provided comprising arms 544 and 548. Forward arms 544 are upported and journaled in the same manner as arms 44 (FIG. 1). However, each is provided at its rearward end with a tubular member 545. Rearward arms 548 are provided at their forward ends with. threaded studs 546 which extends through the bore of tubular members 545. A pair of nuts 554 and 556 are provided on each threaded stud adjacent either end of its associated tubular member 545. Thus the length of the sides of frame 530 may be adjusted by adjustment of the nuts on the thread studs. This adjustment is locked in by tightening the nuts against the ends of their associated tubular members. Arms 548 extend downwardly and rearwardly to clear the bottom of drop wires 20 and upwardly and rearwardly from the rear of the drop wires to a point adjacent the whip roll 18 between the beam.

12 and the extended warp strands 14. Rear support roller 26 which supports the rearward end of belt 524 is journaled in holes (not shown) in the rearward ends of arms 548/Belt 524 which has an upper flight 524a and lower flight 524b is supported at its forward end by roller 28 which is in turn supported and driven in a manner previously described. A pair of arms 551 are pivotally secured by pins 553 on the lower central portions of arms 548. A pair of rollers 555 and 557 are journalled at either of their end in arms 551. Roller 555 is journalled in a hole in each of arms 551 and passes between the upper and lower flights of the belt. Roller 557 is journalled in slots 551]; above the aforementioned holes journaling roller 555. The roller 557 rests on the upper flight of the belt and on roller 555. The purpose of these rollers is to maintain tension on the belt while holding it down below the drop wires. Roller 555 further aids by eliminating friction between the inside surfaces of the belt where this is found to be necessary. A clearing roller 578 spans and rests against the lower flight of the belt adjacent roller 26. It is journalled and retained in position adjacent roller 26 by swinging arms 574 which are pivotally secured at their forward ends to studs 572 on arms 548. Arms 574 are further provided with springs 573 which resiliently bias them upwardly about studs 572 to maintain contact between roller 578 and the lower flight of the belt. The rearward end of frame 530 is supported in position by adjustable hooks 582 which engage loom member 84.

In operation, belt 524 arrest lint in the same manner as belt 24 of FIG. 1 and moves the lint to clearing roll 578 by movement of its upper flight from the heddles toward the warp. Due to the lints slight tendency to cling to the belt it is carried around roller 26 and is removed from the belt by clearing roll 578 on which it is accumulated and forms a sleeve 81 (FIG. 15) in the manner already described. As additional lint is collected and the diameter of the sleeve increases roller 578 swings downwardly to accommodate the increasing thickness of the sleeve of lint. Since the diameter of the warp beam is decreasing in the manner already described, increasing room is automatically provided for the storage of accumulated lint in the form of sleeve 81 (FIG. 15

FIGS. 16, 17, 19 and 20 show still another embodiment of the instant invention wherein the room made available by the consumption of the warp beam is utilized to store lint produced by the weaving process. In this case a set of flexible blades bearing against belt 624 remove lint from the belt by causing it to wad up as it passes between the belt and the blades. These wads then fall into an expandable bag 681. The embodiment comprises a belt 624 having an upper flight 624a and lower flight 62412. The belt is supported and driven at its forward end by roller 28 in the same manner as belt 24 of FIG. 1. In this embodiment a supporting frame is used comprising a pair of short arms 648 which are fixedly mounted by bolts 648a on either end of whip roll lever shaft 16. Roller 26 is journalled in the forward ends of arms 648 and provides support for the rearward end of belt 624. Arms 646 are pivotally mounted on the ends of roller 26 and extend forward and downwardly to a point adjacent the drop wires 20. Roller 651 is journalled in the forward ends of arms 646 and acts to hold belt 624 below the drop wires as well as to maintain tension on the belt. Flexible blades 678, 678a and 67812 are attached in any suitable manner such as screws 675 to strips 677, 677a and 677b. Strip 677 spans and is attached by its ends to arms 648. Strip 677 is attached (FIG. 20) to the arms just below the forward ends of arms 648. Strips 677a and 677b span and are attached by their ends in spaced relation to arms 646. The strips are attached to their respective arms in any suitable manner such as by screws 673. Blade 678 is maintained in rubbing engagement with the portion of belt 624 encircling the rear of roller 26. Blades 678a and 6781) are maintained in rubbing engagement with the bottom flight 624b of the belt. They act to wad up the lint passing between themselves and the belt. These wads roll over the blades and fall into the open mouth 681a of bag 681. The bag is secured around its mouth by rivets 680 to arms 648 and 646 and strip 677. It is further provided with expandable pleated side walls 681b and 6810, front wall 681a and rear wall 681a as well as bottom wall 681a. When a full beam is placed in the loom (FIG. 16) the bag is supported by the surface 13 in a contracted state. As the beam is consumed (FIG. 17) the bag is allowed to expand thus providing increased room for the link gathered from the belt. It is essential that the bag expand beneath the blades since the lint does not migrate readily down a confined passage and clogging would soon occur.

Referring to the embodiment of FIG. 1, an example of certain of the parameters which we have found provide a particularly satisfactory result is as follows: clearing roll; plain carbon steel 4 inch rod; surface of the roll; adhesive backed paper tape wound and glued with plain face out to the clearing roll slightly moistened; loom; Draper X-2; cloth being woven sized cotton; belt material; supported vinyl having major stretch lengthwise with respect to the belt.

We claim:

1. Onaloom comprising:

(I) an upper portion comprising:

(A) awhip roll,

(B) drop wires, spaced from said whip roll,

(C) a layer of textile strands which:

(1) extend:

(a) over said whip roll,

(b) through said drop wires,

(2) produces lint,

(II) a beam located below saidupper portion comprising:

(A) a shaft which:

(1) is mounted on said loom,

(2) is in spaced relation to said upper portion,

(3) is substantially parallel to said layer of textile strands,

(B) textile strands which:

(1) are temporarily wound on said shaft,

(2) supply strands for said layer,

(3) form a cylindrical surface which:

(a) is coaxial with said shaft,

(b) initially is in close proximity to said upper portion,

(0) recedes from said upper portion as said textile strands are payed off to to supply said layer,

a lint collector comprising:

(III) an endless belt:

(A) comprising: I

(1) anupperflight,

(2) a lower flight,

(B) which:

(1) substantially underlies said layer,

( 2) has one end of said flights interposed between said upper portion and said cylindrical surface,

(3) is adapted to arrest said lint on the upper flight,

(IV) means for moving lint arrested by said upper flight to at least one predetermined location adjacent said one end,

(V) clearing means for gathering and collecting lint from said belt comprising:

(A) means engaging at least one of said flights at said at least one location for gathering said 7 lint from said belt,

(B) means adjacent to and cooperative with said gathering means for collecting said gathered lint into an expanding package,

(VI) means adapting said clearing means to expand between said upper portion and said receding cylindrical surface as said clearing means gathers said lint.

2. The combination of claim 1 in which said clearing means comprises a roll having a lint aflinitive surface engaging said belt at said location.

3. The combination of claim 1 in which said clearing means comprises at least one blade engaging said lower flight adjacent said one end and adapted to dislodge said arrested lint from said belt and a bag comprising a mouth located below said blade and adapted to receive and collect said dislodged lint, and a body portion comprising expandable walls and a bottom.

4. On a loom comprising:

(I) an upper portion comprising:

(A) awhip roll,

(B) drop wires, spaced from said whip roll,

1 1 (C) heddles, spaced from said drop wires on the side thereof opposite said whip roll, (D) a layer of textile strands which:

l extend:

(a) over said whip roll,

(b) through said drop wires,

(c) through said heddles,,

(2) produces lint, (II) a beam located below said upper portion comprising:

(A) a shaft which:

(1) is mounted on said loom, (2) is in spaced relation to said upper portion, (3) is substantially parallel to said layer of textile strands, (B) textile strands temporarily wound on said shaft which:

( 1) supply strands for said layer, (2) form a cylindrical'surface which:

(a) initially is in close proximity to said upper portion,

(b) recedes from said upper portion as said textile strands are payed off said beam to supply said layer,

lint collecting apparatus comprising:

(III) a first roller which:

(A) is closely adjacent said heddles, (B) is closely adjacent the lower side of said strand layer, (C) is substantially horizontal, (D) extends across substantially the entire width of said strand layer, (IV) a second roller which:

(A) is adjacent said whip roll, (B) is between said strand layer and said cylindrical surface, (C) is substantially horizontal, (D) extends substantially the full width of said strand layer, (V) an endless belt which:

(A) encirclessaid rollers, (B) is in contact with said rollers, (C) passes under said drop wires,

(D) has a surface presented upwardly toward said portion of said strand layer between said rollers, whereby said lint which falls downwardly from said strand layer portion between said rollers is arrested by said belt surface,

(VI) means for moving said belt around said rollers so that said surface presented upwardly moves edgewise from said first roller toward said second roller,

(VII) clearing roll means:

(A) which:

(1) extends across substantially the width of said belt, (2) is closely adjacent said second roller, (3) engages said belt, (B) for:

(1) gathering said arrested lint from said upwardly presented surface, (2) storing said gathering lint in an expanding sleeve on said roll,

(VIII) means for supporting said second roller in fixed relation to said receding surface during at least an initial portion of the recession of said receding surface,

whereby said second roller and the portion of said endless belt which encircles it will recede from said upper portion of said loom as said cylindrical surface recedes thus providing room for the expansion of said sleeve on said clearing roll.

5. The combination of claim 4 wherein said means for supporting said second roller comprises at least one journal rotatably mounting said roller, at least one arm having said journal mounted on one end thereof and being pivotally mounted'at its other endon said loom at a point between said second roller and said heddles, said arm being further provided at said one end with a shoe member extending below said second roller and resting on said cylindrical surface whereby said second roller is supported in said fixed relation to said receding surface.

6. The combination of claim 5 wherein said other end of said arm is pivoted about the axis of said first roller.

7. The combination of claim 4 wherein said means for supporting said second roller comprises a journal at either end of said roller, a pair of arms each having one of said journals mounted on one end thereof, said arms extending from said second roller to said first roller along the edges of said belt and being mounted pivotally on the ends of said first roller, each of said arms having mounted on said one end thereof a shoe extending downwardly below said second roller and resting on said cylindrical surface, whereby said second roller and the portion of the belt surrounding same will remain in said fixed relation to said receding cylindrical surface.

8. The combination of claim 7 wherein said arms extend from said pivot on said first roller, below said drop wires and to said second roller.

9. The combination of claim 7 wherein said arms extend upwardly from said pivot on said first roller, rearwardly above said drop wires, downwardly between said drop wires and said second roller and rearwardly to said second roller.

10. The combination of claim 7 wherein said arms are provided with means for adjustment of the length thereof.

11. The combination of claim 7 further comprising a bar which is closely spaced rearwardly of said second roller is substantially parallel thereto and is mounted at each of its ends of said one end of each of said arms whereby said portion of said belt encircling said second roller is protected by said bar from extra textile strands on said warp which are recirculated around said warp and said whin roll.

12. The combination of claim 7 further comprising a second pair of arms, each of said second arms being pivotally connected at one of its, ends to one of said arms between said first and said second rollers and being provided with a journal at its other end, said clearing roll means being rotatably mounted at its ends in said journals whereby said clearing roll means is permitted to rise to accommodate said expanding sleeve of lint between itself and said belt.

13. The combination of claim 12 wherein said journals in said second pairof arms comprise downwardly opening slots having the ends of said clearing roll received therein whereby said clearing roll may be released for removal from said journals by merely lifting said second pair of arms.

14. The combination of claim 7 further comprising stop means mounted on said loom for stopping the downward movement of said lint collecting apparatus at a fixed distance from said upper portion as said lint collecting apparatus follows said receding cylindrical surface whereby said downward movement will be arrested when sufficient room has been provided to accommodate the said expansion of said sleeve of lint which will be produced by said textile strands temporarily wound on said shaft.

15. On a loom comprising: (I) an upper portion comprising:

(A) a whip roll, (B) drop wires, spaced from said whip roll, (C) heddles, spaced from said drop wires on the side thereof opposite said whip roll, (D) a layer of textile strands which:

(1) extend:

(a) over said Whip roll, (b) through said drop wires, (c) through said heddles, (2) produces lint,

13 (II) a beam located below said upper portion comprising:

(A) a shaft which:

(1) is mounted on said loom, (2) is in spaced relation to said upper portion, (3) is substantially parallel to said layer of textile strands, (B) textile strands temporarily wound on said shaft which:

(1) supply strands for said layer, (2) form a cylindrical surface which:

(a) initially is in close proximity to said upper portion,

(b) recedes from said upper portion as said textile strands are payed off said beam to supply said layer,

lint collecting apparatus comprising:

(III) a first roller which:

(A) is closely adjacent said heddles,

(B) is closely adjacent the lower side of said strand layer,

(C) is substantially horizontal,

(D) extends substantially the full width of said strand layer,

(IV) a second roller which:

(A) is adjacent said whip roll,

(B) is between said strand layer and said cylindrical surface,

(C) is substantially horizontal,

(D) extends substantially the full width of said strand layer,

(V) an endless belt which:

(A) encircles said rollers,

(B) is in contact with said rollers,

(C) passes under said drop wires,

(D) has a surface presented upwardly toward said portion of said strand layer between said rollers,

(VI) means for moving said belt around said rollers so that said surface presented upwardly moves edgewise from said first roller toward said second roller,

(VII) means for depressing said belt between said rllers in response to the recession of said cylindrical surface,

(VIII) clearing roll means:

(A) which:

(1) extends across substantially the width of said belt, (2) engages a portion of said belt which:

(a) is between said first and said second roller,

(b) is adjacent said second roller,

(B) for:

(1) gathering said arrested lint from said upwardly presented surface, (2) storing said gathered lint in an expanding sleeve on said roller, whereby the depression of said belt in response to the recession of said cylindrical surface provides room between said belt and said upper portion for the expansion of said sleeve of lint.

16. The combination of claim wherein said means for depressing said belt between said rollers in response to the recession of said cylindrical surface comprises a substantial sag in said belt between said first and said second rollers, said belt having a portion thereof adjacent said second roller supported by said cylindrical surface, and wherein said clearing roll means engages said portion of said belt whereby said supported portion will be increasingly depressed as said cylindrical surface recedes.

17. The combination of claim 15 wherein said means for depressing said belt between said rollers in response to the recession of said cylindrical surface comprises means for moving said second roller toward said first roller in response to the recession of said cylindrical surface whereby depression is produced in said belt which increases as said cylindrical surface recedes.

18. On a loom comprising: (1) an upper portion comprising:

(A) a whip roll, (B) drop wires, spaced from said whip roll, (C) heddles, spaced from said drop wires on the side thereof opposite said whip roll, (D) a layer of textile strands which:

(1) extend:

(a) over said whip roll,

(b) through said drop wires,

( c) through said heddles,

(2) produces lint, (II) a beam located below said upper portion comprising:

(A) a shaft which:

(1) is mounted on said loom, (2) is in spaced relation to said upper portion, (3) is substantially parallel to said layer of textile strands, (B) textile strands temporarily wound on said shaft which: i

(1) supply strands for said layer, (2) form a cylindrical surface which:

(a) initially is in close proximity to said upper portion,

(b) recedes from said upper portion as said textile strands are payed off said beam to supply said layer,

lint collecting apparatus comprising:

(III) a first roller which:

(A) is closely adjacent said heddles, (B) is closely adjacent the lower side of said strand layer, (C) is substantially horizontal, (D) extends across substantially the entire width of said strand layer, (IV) a second roller which:

(A) is adjacent said whip roll, (B) is between said strand layer and said initial cylindrical surface, (C) is substantially horizontal, (D) extends substantially the full width of said strand layer, (V) an endless belt which:

(A) encircles said rollers, (B) is in contact with said rollers, (C) passes under said drop wires, (D) has a surface presented upwardly toward said portion of said strand layer between said rollers,

' whereby said lint which falls downwardly from said strand so that said surface presented upwardly moves edgewise from said first roller toward said second roller, (VII) clearing roll means:

(A) which:

(1) extends across substantially the width of said belt, (2) engages said belt under said second roller, (B) for:

(1])J 1gathering said arrested lint from said 6 t, (2) storing said gathered lint in an expanding sleeve on said roll,

(VIII) means for resiliently biasing said clearing roll means against said belt for permitting downward movement of said roll from said belt to accommodate said expanding sleeve whereby said expanding 15 sleeve is accommodated on said loom by room provided by the recession of said cylindrical surface from said belt. 19. A lint collector: (I) for use on a loom comprising: (A) an upper portion which:

(1) comprises:

(a) a whip roll, ('b) drop wires horizontally spaced from said whip roll, (c) a layer of textile strands which:

(i) extend:

(ia) over said Whip roll; (i'b) through said drop wires,

(ii) produces lint during the weaving process,

(B) a beam located below said upper portion comprising:

(1) a shaft, (2) textile strands which:

(a) are temporarily Wound on said shaft, (b) supply strands for said layer, (c) form a cylindrical surface which:

(i) is concentric with said shaft (ii) is spaced from said shaft,

(iii) is initially in close proximity to said upper portion,

(iv) recedes from said upper portion as textile strands are payed off from said beam to supply said layer,

(II) said lint collector comprising:

(A) an endless belt, (1) comprising:

(a) an upper flight, (b) a lower flight, (2) which:

(a) is adapted to substantially underlie said layer,

16 (b) has one end of said flights adapted to be interposed between said upper portion and said cylindrical surface, (0) is adapted to arrest lint on said upper flight,

(B) means for moving lint arrested by said upper flight to at least one predetermined location adjacent said one end,

(III) clearing means located between said upper portion and said receding cylindrical surface for gathering and collecting lint from said belt comprising:

(A) means engaging said belt at said at least one location for gathering said lint from said belt, comprising at least one blade engaging said lower flight adjacent said one end and adapted to dislodge said arrested lint from said belt,

(B) means adjacent to and cooperative with said gathering means for collecting said gathered lint into an expanding package, comprising a bag comprising a mouth located below said blade and adapted to receive and collect said dislodged lint,

(C) means adapting said clearing means to expand between said upper portion end said receding cylindrical surface as said clearing means gathers said lint comprising a body portion of said bag comprising expandable walls and a bottom.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,156,264 11/1964 Maguire et al. 139-1 3,267,970 8/1966 Maguire et al 139-1 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,711 1868 Great Britain.

MERVIN STEIN, Primary Examiner.

HENRY S. JAUDON, vExaminen 

1. ON A LOOM COMPRISING: (I) AN UPPER PORTION COMPRISING: (A) A WHIP ROLL, (B) DROP WIRES, SPACED FROM SAID WHIP ROLL, (C) A LAYER OF TEXTILE STRANDS WHICH: (1) EXTEND: (A) OVER SAID WHIP ROLL, (B) THROUGH SAID DROP WIRES, (2) PRODUCES LINT, (II) A BEAM LOCATED BELOW SAID UPPER PORTION COMPRISING: (A) A SHAFT WHICH: (1) IS MOUNTED ON SAID LOOM, (2) IS IN SPACED RELATION TO SAID UPPER PORTION, (3) IS SUBSTANTIALLY PARLLEL TO SAID LAYER OF TEXTILE STRANDS, (B) TEXTILE STRANDS WHICH: (1) ARE TEMPORARILY WOUND ON SAID SHAFT, (2) SUPPLY STRANDS FOR SAID LAYER, (3) FORM A CYLINDRICAL SURFACE WHICH: (A) IS COAXIAL WITH SAID SHAFT, (B) INITIALLY IS IN CLOSE PROXIMITY TO SAID UPPER PORTION, (C) RECEDES FROM SAID UPPER PORTION AS SAID TEXTILE STRANDS ARE PAYED OFF TO TO SUPPLY SAID LAYER, A LINT COLLECTOR COMPRISING: (III) AN ENDLESS BELT: (A) COMPRISING: (1) AN UPPER FLIGHT, (2) A LOWER FLIGHT, (B) WHICH: (1) SUBSTANTIALLY UNDERLIES SAID LAYER, (2) HAS ONE END OF SAID FLIGHTS INTERPOSED BETWEEN SAID UPPER PORTION AND SAID CYLINDRICAL SURFACE, (3) IS ADAPTED TO ARREST SAID LINT ON THE UPPER FLIGHT, (IV) MEANS FOR MOVING LINT ARRESTED BY SAID UPPER FLIGHT TO AT LEAST ONE PREDETERMINED LOCATION ADJACENT SAID ONE END, (V) CLEARING MEANS FOR GATHERING AND COLLECTING LINT FROM SAID BELT COMPRISING: (A) MEANS ENGAGING AT LEAST ONE OF SAID FLIGHTS AT SAID AT LEAST ONE LOCATION FOR GATHERING SAID LINT FROM SAID BELT, (B) MEANS ADJACENT TO AND COOPERATIVE WITH SAID GATHERING MEANS FOR COLLECTING SAID GATHERED LINT INTO AN EXPANDING PACKAGE, 